Amadou Onana is confident he can inject further energy and positivity into Everton’s play as he acclimatises to high-octane nature of Premier League football.
The midfielder, who turned 21 last week, made his Goodison Park debut in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest and thanked Evertonians for the “crazy” reception he was afforded when introduced as a second-half substitute.
The Belgian international was in the thick of a barnstorming finish to the game, as Demarai Gray struck Everton’s equaliser two minutes from time before the Blues launched wave after wave of attack in hunt of a last-gasp winner, which unfortunately proved elusive.
Onana believes he will get stronger with every game and revealed how Everton boss Frank Lampard has urged him to express himself on the pitch.
Onana told evertontv: “The manager tells me to go out there, bring the energy I can bring to the team, and just be myself – be Amadou.
“I want to play forward, boost my teammates and do whatever it takes to get the three points.
“My teammates welcomed me in the best possible way. I haven’t have to do much to adapt myself [in the squad].
“It was very good to get some more minutes [against Forest] and get more used to playing in England. It’s a different football, different rhythm, so I have to get used to it. It will come day by day.
“The game is more physical. It is faster, so I have to adapt as quickly as possible.
"I must say, my teammates welcomed me in the best possible way. I haven’t have to do much to adjust myself in the squad."
Everton fired in 19 shots during Saturday’s match and created the lion’s share of clear opportunities to score.
Onana, then, admitted a degree of frustration the Blues could not convert an enterprising display into victory.
Nonetheless, he says his home debut provided an unforgettable experience, as he saluted the sustained ovation he was given by the Goodison crowd when brought on as a 57th-minute substitute.
“The reception was crazy!”, he said. "Hearing them shouting my name... It was very nice.
“I’m very happy about the warm welcome, the crowd was unbelievable. I’d like to say thank you for all the support.
“Perhaps we should have won the game. It was disappointing to concede but we did our very best towards the end.
“The atmosphere in the ground after we scored was unbelievable, too. I think we could have – in the end – got the win.”
On the prospect of getting further competitive minutes under his belt in Tuesday’s second-round Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood Town, Onana added: “I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to give my very best in training first – that’s where it starts.
“Hopefully, we can get the result we want and get through in the competition.”
